How deep is an oil well?

Hello Marinibug,


According to the American Petroleum Institute oil and gas wells have
been drilled at depths ranging from a few thousand feet to as deep as
5 miles.

American Petroleum Institute 
http://api-ec.api.org/environ/index.cfm?objectid=FC3996B1-7CA7-11D5-BC6B00B0D0E15BFC&method=display_body&er



?According to data from the American Petroleum Institute the average
depth of a well drilled in 1997 was 5,601 feet.?
http://ecm.ncms.org/ERI/new/IRRoilgas.htm



2004 Performance Profiles of Major Energy Companies 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Net Wells Completed, and Average Depth, Onshore and Offshore    
2003- 2004 (feet)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Total   U.S.     U.S. Onshore    U.S. Offshore
                     2003    2004     2003    2004    2003     2004
Exploration Wells        	 			 			 
Oil Wells								
Average Depth       11,500  11,900    8,000  10,200   14,800  16,100
Development Wells		 			 			 
Oil Wells		 			 			 
Average Depth        6,000   5,300    5,600   5,200   12,800  9,900
-------------------------------------------------------------------								
								
Source:	US Energy Information Administration							
Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-28 (Financial
Reporting System).
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/btab22.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/btab22.xls





AVERAGE DEPTH OF A NEW OIL WELL
1980 - 3,810 feet
2004 - 5,249 feet
http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/tidbits/2005/tidbits051111.htm



?1997 - Deepest horizontal well in Kern County is Yolwumne 91X-3 with
measured depth of 14,300 feet. However, the well is surpassed only two
years later by the relief well for the Bellevue blowout.?
http://www.sjgs.com/history.html

Louisiana Petroleum Industry Facts

Oil Wells               Avg. Depth/Feet 1997
Louisiana (all)         9,481 
North Louisiana         3,453 
South Louisiana        12,229 
Offshore LA 
state waters)           9,813 
Federal OCS1           11,019 
Deepwater Gulf         11,929 
United States           5,115 
http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/pubs/2oilgasfacts.pdf

California
Onshore

Deepest oil well (producing in 2004): 
Total depth: 14,570 feet 
Year completed: 1980 
Producing interval: 14,426-14,494 feet (Stevens) 
Field: Rio Viejo 
County: Kern (Sec. 34, T.12N., R.21W.) 
Operator: San Joaquin Facilities Mgmt., Inc. 
Well name: "Batson" 87X-34


State Offshore
Deepest oil well: 
Total depth: 14,236 feet (TVD about 13,240 feet)
Year completed: 1956 
Producing interval: 12,551-13,927 (Colonia) 
Field: West Montalvo, Offshore Area 
County: Ventura (Proj. Sec. 35, T.2N., R.23W.) 
Operator: Berry Petroleum Co. 
Well name: ?State? C-5
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/DOG/statistics.htm



Search terms used: 
"average depth of an oil well
"oil well"  feet OR meters deep OR depth OR deepest

I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards,
Bobbie7

Thank you.  The information provided was helpful